Tag: Lent

On
Fr. Donald Lange

Father Mazzuchelli’s example can help us live a fruitful Lent

We begin Lent on March 1 by receiving a cross of ashes on our forehead. The ashes remind us that we are dust and unto dust we shall return.

Receiving the ashes also reminds us that while we are still alive, we are to repent and believe the Good News so that at Easter we can renew our Baptismal promises with deepened faith.

Venerable Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli died on February 23, 1864, during Lent. Thanks especially to the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, we know much about Father Samuel, who reflects many of Pope Francis’ virtues. Both can inspire us to live Lent in a Christ-like way that helps us continue our journey to heaven.

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On
Deacon Jack Fernan

Saving souls on the installment plan

Deacon Jack Fernan

As we approach Ash Wednesday and Lent, we are invited to look for our own penitential practices and the way for us to accomplish what God destined for our spiritual journey.

The most simple way, of course, is for us to first of all obey the 10 Commandments and to love God and our neighbor as we love ourself, and then to grow up spiritually.

Many years of haphazard spiritual practices have taught me to stop dilly-dallying around. If you too have not been very diligent about helping others grow spiritually, maybe we can get serious about improving our spiritual practices day by day and week by week.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

DeForest parish hosts Lenten mission

DEFOREST — St. Olaf Parish is hosting a Lenten mission, “At the Foot of the Cross with Mary,” from Friday, March 10, to Monday, March 13.

On Friday at 6:30 p.m., the parish will offer a virtual pilgrimage to the sanctuaries of Lourdes, France. Participants will immerse themselves in the Gospel Message of Lourdes as given by Our Lady to St. Bernadette. Come touch the grotto rock and experience the healing grace of Lourdes water.

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On
Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison

Renewing our invitation to conversion

This column is the bishop’s communication with the faithful of the Diocese of Madison. Any wider circulation reaches beyond the intention of the bishop.

Dear Friends,

I’m not certain how it accomplishes this each year, but Lent seems always to surprise me.

I just looked at the calendar and saw that Ash Wednesday is only two weeks away! It seems as though we’ve just finished marking the season of Christmas — with all of the joy and exuberance that that brings.

On the other hand, there’s a part of me that has the sense that we just completed a Lent not so long ago.

And yet, I can recall some of the resolutions that came from my prayer, fasting, and almsgiving last Lent, and I cannot say that I’ve perfected them — or rather that they’ve been made perfect in me — over the past year.

And so it is, this cycle of conversion and reversion continues, and thanks be to God, it comes each year.

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On
Patrick Gorman, For the Catholic Herald

Living the Liturgical Year

Most of us have some sense of the Church’s liturgical year. The priest wears purple during Advent, the sanctuary is filled with poinsettias during the Christmas season (and beyond), and our parishes add extra hours for the Sacrament of Penance during Lent. The life of the Church is ordered around the rhythm of the liturgical year.

Unfortunately, most people’s lives are ordered around a different calendar. School starts every fall, December is packed with too many things to do, travel plans are made when the kids are on spring break, etc.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Lenten Women’s Day of Reflection

MADISON — A Lenten Women’s Day of Reflection will be held on Saturday, March 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Schoenstatt Marian Shrine, 5901 Cottage Grove Rd.

With the theme, “Queen of Mercy, Refuge of Sinners,” the day will include talks and discussions, Mass, opportunity for Confession, private prayer, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and indulgence prayers for the Year of Mercy.

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On
Bishop Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison

Reflecting upon Word of God and Natural Law

Dear Friends,

Prior to launching into a reflection upon our readings from this past Sunday, I find myself desiring to reflect for a moment upon the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, of our United States Supreme Court.

I only met Justice Scalia twice, very briefly, and so my reflections are not necessarily drawn from personal experience. But they are certainly from the reliable and personally related experience of his family and of friends, who were very close to the Justice.

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